Justin Tolchuck has nearly everything any teenager could want: caring parents, a popular sister, and his own style. However, the one thing that Justin does lack is a social life. His mother, Franny, tries to fix this problem by hosting a foreign student who can perhaps make Justin popular. However, the Tolchucks are in for a very big surprise when the foreigner turns out to be not at all what they had expected.

Raja explains to his class how close he and Justin are, prompting rumors about the two being a couple to spread throughout the school. Thus, Justin turns to Claire for help, who advises him to completely ignore Raja. This later causes Justin to be more alone than ever because Raja instead befriends the geekiest kid in school. Meanwhile, Gary decides to get involved when Claire decides to call it quits with Jeffrey.

When Franny loses her sense of boundaries and requests that Gary remove the locks from all the doors, Justin and his friends find time for themselves by creating the Rocket Club, which is their secret excuse to hang out and do whatever they want. Raja, however, does not fit in well with the group because he does not like the fact that all they do is nothing.

All the guys suddenly get angry at Raja for encouraging the hottest girl in school to dress more decent. Meanwhile, Claire suddenly becomes the head of the A-List crowd and Franny decides to focus her attention to Gary's wardrobe once Justin tells her it's time for him to get his own clothes.

Gary gives the boys a speech about finances, motivating Raja to get a job at a convenience store.

Justin's aspirations to serve on the Homecoming Junior Float committee go down the drain when Raja gets chosen over him, creating a feud between the two. At the same time, Franny tries on Claire's Homecoming dress, which Gary finds attractive until he discovers that it belongs to his daughter.

Much to the family's surprise, Raja begins smoking due to midterms stress. Meanwhile, Claire is heartbroken when Jeffrey breaks up with her and when Justin tries to cheer her up she embarrasses him in front of the kids at school. However, Claire soon finds herself trying to regain Justin's affections.

Justin and Raja are both the new school mascot. Therefore, they must share both the responsibility and the costume.

Raja and Justin are the forces behind the latest school prank.

After Raja claims that the local shopping center is like the Tolchucks' version of church, Franny decides that the family should begin attending church again. Justin abuses the power of prayer and Claire wants to go on the pill.

Justin is terrified by the school bully, Trey. But he finds a way out of getting beaten up--by lying about his Mom's health. Meanwhile, Franny gets involved in a minor fender bender, but Gary makes things worse when he tries to prevent her from taking responsibility.

An aptitude test is conducted at school. Raja will become a doctor. But, Justin gets a no career life choice. Gary annouces a hunting trip with Justin and Raja.

A community theater group is putting on "Rent." Franny wants Justin to audition, but he won't, so she convinces him to join the crew. After Justin meets Zoe, a cute actress, he auditions for hte male lead and gets the part. Meanwhile, Claire joins the school's teen hotline.

When Raja prays at the airport, the Tolchucks are questioned there. After the incident, Raja feels bad, so he asks to be place with a new family. The Tolchucks search for Raja.

Raja has trouble with a girl named Mindy. He starts spending time with her and finds out that she is annoying. After Justin tells Raja that Mindy believes that she is dating him, Raja lies to her in order to let her down. He tells her that they can't date because of their religious differences, but things get complicated when Mindy converts to Islam. Franny and Gary deal with a neighbor who is a registered sex offender.

When the PTA protests about smutty books at school, Justin and Franny are forced to read the books for the first time. Claire uses the protest as an excuse to getting out of reading "Pride and Prejudice." Justin turns to Raja when his parents find out that he has been drawing pictures of naked women.

Raja is organizing an event to help support Students Against Drunk Driving. They are having a fake funeral for someone. Everyone wants it to be for Dan Archer, but Raja wants it to be for Justin. Things get heated in the competition, but Justin soon realizes what the event is really about.

Raja finds infatuation with Sadika Sadaqatmal, a local Muslim girl. Franny gets excited and plans a big date for them, which includes both sides of the family. Gary and Franny comment on how Justin doesn't even have a girlfriend yet, which causes him to ask out a neurotic girl named Donna. Claire begins dating the German exchange student staying with the Sadaqatmals.